Denying the correlative

Name of fallacy

Denying the correlative

Aliases

Type

Irrelevant Argument, Informal Argument

Description

Where attempts are made at introducing alternatives where there are none.

Example

Policeman: ".. either you stole the money or you didn't, which is it?". Suspect: "... you are assuming that the money really exists....".
In the context of the question this is not a valid alternative:
regardless of the existence of the money, the suspect either stole it
or didn't.

Form

Introduction a false alternative into a context that logically admits none.

Treatment

Examin the context and show that the alternative is irrelevant and a distraction from the core argument